WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 18858, 25 June 1920, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

THE MELBOURNE STRIKE. EVERY HOPE OF SETTLEMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press A .-‘in.—Copyright.' (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, June 24. (Receiver! June 24, 10.30 p.m.) The strike outlook is brighter and there is every hope of a settlement to-night. The I Premier has issued instructions ensuring the j re employment of the striking gas workers jin the event of a settlement of the dis- | puts. j Unemployment slightly increased to-day, j some timber yards closing. The employers ! state that unless the engine-driveis’ strike 1 is settled to-night all the timber yards will be closed indefinitely. WIRELESS OPERATORS' STRIKE. SHIPPING HOLD-UP ENDED. LONDON, June 23. (Received June 24, 8.5 p.m.) A conference of the parties to the wireless operators’ strike resulted in the release of the ships held up at Liverpool. STRIKE CALLED OFF. ... LONDON, June 23. (Received June 24, 9.45 p.m.l The wireless operators’ executive announce that the strike has been called off owing to the grave dislocation of the country’s shipping and the operators securing adequate guarantees of fair treatment. NEW SOUTH WALES MINERS. CONFERENCE ON DEMANDS. SYDNEY, June 24. A conference of coal owners and miners discussed the men’s claim for payment of £1 a day for the lower-paid men and shorter working hours. The owners submitted counter-proposals, but no agreement was reached. On the suggestion of Mr Hughes, who presided, the conference adjourned with the object of the two parties trying to reach a modus vivendi. AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND GAS WORKERS. STRIKE DECISION REVERSED. SUCCESSFUL MEDIATION. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 24. The gas workers’ dispute culminated in the union deciding at a special meeting held last evening to strike from to-morrow afternoon, the shift workers at 3 o’clock, and the balance two hours later. The company has been advised accordingly, the communication reading as follows: “In thanking the hoard of directors for giving further consideration to our application for an increase of wages, I have the honour to inform you that your letter of 21st ins*, was carefully considered at a 'special meeting of the union held this evening, and as we understand your hoard cannot go further than indicated in their letter to the union of the Ist inst., I am reluctantly compelled to advise you that it was unanimously resolved that as a protest against the inadequate wages offered the shift workers will cease working for the company at 3 p.m., and the other workers at 5 p.m. on Friday, the 25th day of June, 1920.- (signed) j. Clark, secretary'.” Further than this a resolution was passed as follows;—" That this meeting having reI ceived complete satisfaction by the manner in which the executive has conducted the j negotiations with the Auckland G;ls Com- | pany in reference to our application for in--1 creased wages, and owing to the reply reI ceived from tire company directors after re- | considering their oiler made on June 1, un- ! reservedly places the dispute in the hand* I of the executive with full power to a.ct, and ! also pledges itself to abide by any order or decision of the executive.” The decision of the directors, which was j convoyed to the union last evening, reads as | follows:- | “At a meeting of my board hold (his day 1 (Monday) I was instructed to inform you j that the directors received with much regret i your letter of June 15, informing them that I a ballot taken had resulted in a decision to ! reject the company’s offer. The company’s i offer involves an increase of the pay-sheet i of nearly' £BOOO a year, and this, coming I upon an increase of £13,000 a year made ; in January last, Indicate;, that a pause must | come. The rates of pay in this company , are on a high level, and bear favourable ! comparison with the wages paid in other inI dir-dne-. ft has always been the policy of ! this company to keep the price of gas flown j to tiie lowest point consistent with fair ! wages to the employees. The directors | point out that the existing agreement, was i made under the provisions of (he Labour | Disputes Investigation Act, and that the 1 company’s offer is largely in advance of the : bonus of 0s granted since January last by the Arbitration Court on the reeommenda- , tion of the Government Statistician. The ! present offer means in any case a rise in I (he price of gas, but the directors consider that the interests of the comumers are entitled to serious consideration. In these circumstances my board wish you to please understand that they cannot go further than was indicated in their loiter of June 1.” The threatened gas strike was averted this evening by the efforts of Mr Cutten, S.M., who prosified at the proceedings when the agreement under which the Gas Company's employees are now working was . framed. Mr Cutten conferred with the union and later with the company-, and an agreement was reached on a basis which ! roughly amounted to “splitting (he difference.” Increases on the company's offer were conceded which, summarised, comprise an advance of wages of approximately- ten I shillings per week instead of eight shillings. TIIE TARATU MINERS. SETTLEMENT OF THE DISPUTE. DUNEDIN, June 24. One of the matters disposed of by the Disputes Committee at Wellington last week was the Taratu coal miners’ dispute >n which a settlement has been reached. It is understood this settlement means the higher cost of production and the passing on of this cost to the merchants. INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCES. AN AUSTRALIAN MOVEMENT. WELLINGTON, June 24. Apropos of the decision of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation that a national industrial conference would be futile, the Welfare League has just received advice from Australia (hat a central council of employers representing all employers’ organisations in all the States, the Associated Chambers of Commerce anti Associated Chambers of Manufacturers, both of which are inter-State bodies, are favourable to a conference while the inter-State shipping companies and Australian Mines and Metals Association have asked to be allowed to send representatives. CHRISTCHURCH CLERKS. OPPOSITION TO AN AWARD. CHRISTCHURCH, June 24. The Arbitration Court was engaged to-day with the Clerks’ Union’s dispute as it affects the office employees of freezing coni'* panics. The inclusion of the staffs in the award was opposed by the employers at the request of the employees, on the grounds that a guild had been formed, that the employees were antagonistic to the Union, and that wages above those asked for were being paid. The Union secured an adjournment, it being contended that a principle was involved, the principle of the destruction of unionism.